Content transfer device and content transfer method, content reproduction device and content reproduction method, content distribution system and computer program

ABSTRACT

An apparatus may include a control unit to control transmission of a transformed video stream over a network, in response to a reproduction control command for a video stream realized by an application executed by a browser at a client device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/859,957, filed on Apr. 10, 2013, published Oct. 31, 2013which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application JP 2012-102260filed on Apr. 27, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present technology relates to a content transfer device and acontent transfer method which transfer a content stream exported from astreaming server, a content reproduction device and a contentreproduction method which perform the selection of content and thereproduction of content, a content distribution system, and a computerprogram, for example, to a content transfer device and a contenttransfer method which transfer a content stream distributed by an IPTVbroadcast service to an IPTV service client, a content reproductiondevice and a content reproduction method which perform the selection ofcontent or channels and the reproduction of content as a client in anIPTV service, a content distribution system and a computer program.

Progress is being made in the commercialization of IPTV services and VOD(Video on Demand) services which transmit video content that had beenbroadcast using ground waves or satellite waves via an IP (InternetProtocol) broadband network.

In the IPTV distribution system of the related art, the HTTP (Hyper TextTransfer Protocol) is being used for the acquisition and control of theAV stream. In other words, in an Internet TB distribution system whichuses a network in which the quality is not guaranteed, in general, amethod is adopted in which transfer is performed using the same HTTP andTCP (Transmission Control Protocol) protocols for both the acquisitioncontrol messages of the content and the AV stream of the content (forexample, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2007-272868).

Meanwhile, in a network in which the QoS of (Quality of Service) isguaranteed, such as NGN (Next Generation Network), the introduction ofwhich is being led by the carriers of various countries, a streamingsession is established using a protocol such as SIP (Session InitiationProtocol) or RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol), and the AV stream istransferred using a protocol such as RTP (Real time Transport Protocol)(for example, refer to International Publication WO 2008/091009).

In general, there are different implementation profiles (sets ofprotocol parameters) of the clients of the IPTV protocol using SIP/RTSPand RTP for each carrier. Therefore, the device vendors which developand manufacture devices such as STBs (Set Top Boxes) which receive IPTVhave to implement an individual IPTV client for each carrier (an IPTVclient application for each carrier).

In FIG. 10, a video distribution system is schematically shown in whichthe establishment of a streaming session is performed using the SIP/RTSPprotocol, in addition to transferring the AV stream using the RTPprotocol. In the illustrated example, individual services known as IPTVservice A and IPTV service B are respectively provided from twocarriers, and a server is installed for each service. Here, in order toreceive the distribution service from the server of the IPTV service A,an individual IPTV client application for service A is necessary, and inorder to receive the distribution service from the server of the IPTVservice B, an individual IPTV client application for service B isnecessary. Specifically, these client service applications for each ofthe services are embedded software inside the STB issued by eachcarrier. In such cases, it is necessary for the carrier to change thedevices (in other words, the STB) when changing the service. Inaddition, it is necessary for the vendor of the client application todevelop and maintain the client application in accordance with theindividual protocols of each carrier (in other words, each service). Inaddition, after subscribing to the IPTV service of a carrier, it isnecessary for the end user to buy another STB when the user wants tofurther use the IPVT service of a different carrier.

The device vendors have a desire to reuse the IPTV client implementationthey have developed for the IPTV service of a carrier for the IPTVservice of a plurality of other carriers. In order to achieve this, itis necessary to either implement a different individual IPTV serviceprotocol for each carrier for one client, or to implement a plurality ofdifferent individual IPTV clients for each carrier. The protocolimplementation costs the device vendor. In addition, a problem occurs inthat the maintenance regarding the addition of functions in accordancewith the requests from the service provider costs the device vendor.

In addition, it is necessary to provide a uniform service which does notdepend on the differences in implementation between each client inrelation to the end user, no matter which of the clients of thedifferent implementations by the plurality of different client vendorsis used. Therefore, there is a problem in that the service provider hasto spend more time and money on service development and maintenance suchas testing and management of service quality.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide an excellent content transfer device andcontent transfer method which can favorably transfer a content streamdistributed by an IPTV broadcast service to an IPTV service client, aswell as to provide a computer program.

In addition, it is desirable to provide an excellent contentreproduction device and content reproduction method which can favorablyperform selection of the content or channel, or reproduction of thecontent as a client in an IPTV service, as well as a computer program.

In addition, it is desirable to provide an excellent contentdistribution system in which it is possible to reduce the cost of theimplementation and maintenance of an IPTV client, and to make theservice quality in relation to each client uniform.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus mayinclude a control unit to control transmission of a transformed videostream over a network, in response to a reproduction control command fora video stream realized by an application executed by a browser at aclient device.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method mayinclude controlling, by a processor, transmission of a transformed videostream over a network, in response to a reproduction control command fora video stream realized by an application executed by a browser at aclient device.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitoryrecording medium may be recorded with a program executable by acomputer. The program may include controlling transmission of atransformed video stream over a network, in response to a reproductioncontrol command for a video stream realized by an application executedby a browser at a client device.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus mayinclude a control unit to control transmission of a reproduction controlcommand for a video stream realized by an application executed by abrowser, to cause transmission of a transformed video stream fromanother apparatus over a network.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method mayinclude controlling, by a processor, transmission of a reproductioncontrol command for a video stream realized by an application executedby a browser, to cause transmission of a transformed video stream froman apparatus over a network.

According to the technology disclosed in the present specification, itis possible to provide an excellent content transfer device and contenttransfer method which can favorably transfer a content streamdistributed by an IPTV broadcast service to an IPTV service client, aswell as a computer program.

In addition, according to the technology disclosed in the presentspecification, it is possible to provide an excellent contentreproduction device and content reproduction method which can favorablyperform selection of the content or channel, or reproduction of thecontent as a client in an IPTV service, as well as a computer program.

In addition, according to the technology disclosed in the presentspecification, it is possible to provide an excellent contentdistribution system in which it is possible to reduce the cost of theimplementation and maintenance of an IPTV client, and to make theservice quality in relation to each client uniform.

In an IPTV distribution system to which the technology disclosed in thepresent specification is applied, the functions of an IPTV serviceclient provided from a plurality of different service providers may beseparated into navigation (a function of selecting the content),reproduction control (a function which sends commands as in trick play,such as normal reproduction (play), stopping (stop), rewind reproduction(rewind), fast forward reproduction (forward), and pause), and streaming(a function which transfers and reproduces the AV stream), the first twobeing realized as a browser application, and the latter one beingimplemented as a player which is transparent to the IPTV serviceprotocol (is common and does not depend on the differences between theIP service protocols). Therefore, it is sufficient for the device vendorto develop a browser application for each service, and it is possible toreduce the cost of individually implementing and maintaining clients fora plurality of different services. In addition, for the serviceprovider, since the content which the end user selected via the browseris streamed using the RTP protocol through a network in which thequality is guaranteed in accordance with the reproduction controlcommands specified on the browser, it is possible to achieve unificationof the service quality. In addition, it is possible to greatly improvethe performance when performing a channel change in the IP broadcastdistribution despite using an HTTP streaming client.

Furthermore, other objects, characteristics, and advantages of thetechnology disclosed in the present specification will be clarified bydetailed description based on the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an IPTVdistribution system realized by applying the technology disclosed in thepresent specification;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a specific configuration example for performinga content distribution service by using a permanent streaming session inthe IPTV distribution system;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a sequence example for performing a contentstream distribution service by using a permanent streaming session inthe IPTV distribution system;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a sequence example in detail which performsstreaming reproduction and reproduction control of content on a clientdevice in the IPTV distribution system;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the means to realize high speed channelchanging in the IPTV distribution system;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a sequence example for performing a channelstream distribution service by using a permanent streaming session inthe IPTV distribution system;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a sequence example for performing a channelstream distribution service by using a permanent streaming session inthe IPTV distribution system (in a case in which speed variedreproduction of the channel or stream is supported);

FIG. 8 is a view schematically showing the functional configuration ofan IPTV service translation server;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the entities of the client device side in theIPTV service; and

FIG. 10 is a view schematically showing a video distribution system (anexample of the related art) in which the establishment of a streamingsession is performed using the SIP/RTSP protocol, in addition totransferring the AV stream using the RTP protocol.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the technology disclosed in the present specificationwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an IPTV distributionsystem 100 realized by applying the technology disclosed in the presentspecification. In the illustrated example, individual services known asIPTV service A and IPTV service B are respectively provided from twocarriers, and a server is installed for each service.

In the technology disclosed in the present specification, the functionsof an IPTV service client provided from a plurality of different serviceproviders may be separated into navigation (a function of selecting thecontent), reproduction control (a function which sends commands as intrick play, such as normal reproduction (play), stopping (stop), rewindreproduction (rewind), fast forward reproduction (forward), and pause),and streaming (a function which transfers and reproduces the AV stream),the first two being realized as a browser application, and the latterone being implemented as a player which is transparent to the IPTVservice protocol (is common and does not depend on the differencesbetween the IP service protocols). A browser application provided withfunctions of navigation and reproduction control is provided from aportal site of a carrier as a portal application.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the individual protocols of navigationand reproduction control for service A are supplied from a service Aserver 110 as a browser application for service A 131. On the end userside, it is possible to perform selection of content which thenavigation, in other words, the service A distributes, as well asreproduction control of the content by downloading the browserapplication for service A 131 from the service A server 110 to a clientdevice 130 such as a TV receiver and launching the application in abrowser execution environment 133.

Similarly, the individual protocols of navigation and reproductioncontrol for service B are supplied from a service B server 120 as abrowser application for service B 132. On the end user side, it ispossible to perform the navigation as well as the reproduction controlof the content by downloading the browser application for service B 132from the service B server 120 to the client device 130 and launching theapplication in the browser execution environment 133.

Furthermore, on the client device 130, the content that was streamingdistributed from the service A server 110 is received via an edge server140 and reproduced using a player 134 which operates on the clientdevice.

The edge server 140 downloads the individual streaming protocoltranslation server application for service A from the service A server110 and launches the server application. As described below, thestreaming session with the client device 130, which uses the individualIPTV service translation server for service A operating on the edgeserver 140, is permanent.

Here, there are individual streaming sessions for the provider betweenthe streaming server and the edge server 140 of the service A such asSIP, RTSP and RTP/RTCP (described below). The edge server 140 as anindividual IPTV service translation server for the service A convertsthe individual streaming format exported from the streaming server intoa streaming format which can be processed by the player 134 on theclient device 130 side and exports the converted streaming format.Therefore, on the client device 130, it is possible to reproduce thecontent provided from the service A by using a player which istransparent to the IPTV service protocol (is common and does not dependon the differences between the IP service protocols) such as a mediaplayer of Windows (registered trademark). In addition, the edge server140 as an individual IPTV service translation server for the service Aperforms transactions by converting the reproduction control commandsfrom the client device 130 into an individual IPTV service reproductioncontrol protocol which can be interpreted by the streaming server.

The end user performs reproduction control via the browser during thereproduction of the content which is stream distributed on the player134. The edge server 140 controls the streaming operations to the player134 in accordance with the reproduction control commands transmitted asHTTP requests from the browser.

Similarly, the content that was streaming distributed from the service Bserver 120 is received via an edge server 150 and reproduced using theplayer 134 which operates on the client device 130.

The edge server 150 launches the individual streaming protocoltranslation server application for service B, which was downloaded fromthe service B server 120. As described below, the streaming session withthe client device 130, which uses the individual IPTV servicetranslation server for service B operating on the edge server 150, ispermanent.

Here, the edge server 150 as an individual IPTV service translationserver for the service B converts the individual streaming formatexported from the streaming server of the service B into a streamingformat which can be processed by the player 134 on the client device 130side and exports the converted streaming format. Therefore, on theclient device 130, it is possible to reproduce the content provided fromthe service B by using the player 134 which is transparent to the IPTVservice protocol. In addition, the edge server 150 as an individual IPTVservice translation server for the service B performs transactions byconverting the reproduction control commands from the client device 130into an individual IPTV service reproduction control protocol which canbe interpreted by the streaming server.

The end user performs reproduction control via the browser during thereproduction of the content which is stream distributed on the player134. The edge server 150 controls the streaming operations to the player134 in accordance with the reproduction control commands transmitted asHTTP requests from the browser.

In the IPTV distribution system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the serviceprovider which provides the service A, the service B, or the like canprovide a uniform service which does not depend on the differences inimplementation between each client to an end user and the time and costburden may be significantly reduced by just developing and performingmaintenance on a browser application for each service to be downloadedas a portal application in the client device 130.

In addition, the device vendor only has to develop and performmaintenance on a standard browser execution environment that operated onthe client device 130, which significantly reduces the cost burden incomparison to a case in which either implementing a plurality ofdifferent individual IPTV service protocols for each carrier, orimplementing a plurality of different individual IPTV clients for eachcarrier.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration example for performing a contentdistribution service by using a permanent streaming session in the IPTVdistribution system 100. In FIG. 2, in order to simplify illustration,the IPTV distribution system 100 is depicted focusing on one videodistribution service.

Core network 201 and access network 202 are networks owned by thecarriers (service providers) which provide the IPTV distributionservice. The core network 201 is equivalent to a so-called backbonenetwork, and the access network 202 is a high speed network configuredby an optical fiber network or the like. In the illustrated example, thecarrier has server side entities in the IPTV service such as a servicediscovery server 211, a portal server 212, a streaming server 213,individual streaming servers 213 for providers such as SIP, RTSP andRTP/RTCP, and a resource management server 215, on the core network 201.In addition, an edge server 216 which connects the core network 201 andthe access network 202 is installed for each region in the providernetwork. The edge server 216 relays the streaming from the streamingserver 213 to the client device 231.

The service discovery server 211 is a server for discovering IPTVservices that an IPTV client manager 233 of the client device 231accesses and that the client can access. The service discovery server211 manages the attributes of the IPTV services in which serviceprovision is possible. The IPTV service provider registers theinformation necessary for the service access to the service discoveryserver 211. Examples of information elements which the service discoveryserver 211 provides to the client side include the name of the IPTVservice, the summary of the IPTV service, and the URL of the IPTVservice portal (the portal server).

The portal server 212 is a server which provides an IPTV portal page(VoD content or the shop front (a site which performs selection of thecontent to purchase and the purchase processing) of an IP broadcastchannel) as well as the reproduction control screen of each item ofcontent and channel introduced from the portal page to the portalapplication (an application which handles the content navigation and thereproduction control) which is executed on a browser 234 of the clientdevice 231.

The edge server 216 is a server installed in the vicinity of the networkhub (building) of each region (as long as it is possible to access fromthe client side, anywhere other than the home network 203 is acceptableand location is not particularly an issue).

In the present embodiment, the edge server 216 functions as the IPTVservice translation server by, for example, executing a designatedserver application downloaded from the portal server 212. FIG. 8schematically shows the functional configuration of an IPTV servicetranslation server. The IPTV service translation server (streaming unit803) receives the streaming request of the content or the channel fromthe client which the streaming server 213 is responsible for and exportsthe correlating stream. In addition, the IPTV service translation server(private channel establishing unit 801) establishes one HTTP pseudostreaming channel (session) with guaranteed bandwidth as a privatechannel with a player 235 on the client device 231. In addition,individual streaming sessions are established for the provider betweenthe streaming server 213 and the translation server such as SIP, RTSPand RTP/RTCP. The streaming unit 803 constantly transfers the streamingon all of the channels to the player 235 side. Furthermore, ifnecessary, the security of the HTTP pseudo streaming session is securedusing SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or the like. The IPTV servicetranslation server on the edge server 216 is typically accessed by oneURL from the player 235 on the client device 231. In addition, when theIPTV service translation server (reproduction control command receptionunit 802) receives a reproduction control command related to the streamreproduction from the portal application which operated on the clientdevice 231, the IPTV service translation server performs streamprocessing such that the player only has to perform the same processingas in normal reproduction.

The resource management server 215 performs the securing of thedistribution resources with the streaming server 213 and with the playeron the client device 231 in accordance with the request from the IPTVservice translation server (private channel establishing unit 801) onthe edge server 216. For the distribution resource securing, the IMS/SIPprotocol used in carrier private networks such as NGN, the OpenFlow-APIwhich will be standardized in the future, individual protocols forcarrier network equipment, or the like are used (described below).

The streaming server 213 receives the streaming request of the contentor the streaming request of the channel from the IPTV servicetranslation server and exports the corresponding content stream.

Meanwhile, a home network 203 is installed in the household of the enduser. The home network 203 is interconnected with the network of thecarrier such as the access network 202 via a modem or a router 232. Thehome network 203 is in accordance with the technical specifications of,for example, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) or the like,however, since this is not directly related to the embodiment of thetechnology disclosed in the present specification, detailed descriptionof such technical specifications is omitted.

The client device 231 is connected to the home network 203. Entitiessuch as the IPTV client manager 233, the browser 234, and the player 235operate on the client device 231. Furthermore, the navigation (afunction of selecting the content), and the reproduction control (afunction which sends commands as in trick play, such as normalreproduction (play), stopping (stop), rewind reproduction (rewind), fastforward reproduction (forward), and pause) are realized by the portalapplication executed by the browser 234, and the function of streaming(a function which transfers and reproduces the AV stream) is realized bythe player 235.

The IPTV client manager 233, the browser 234 and the player 235 are eachentities of the client device 231 side in the IPTV service (refer toFIG. 9).

When launched, the IPTV client manager 233 acquires the IPTV servicediscovery information from the service discovery server 211 and launchesthe browser 234 based on the portal URL provided therefrom.

The browser 234 is equivalent to the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)browser 234, and includes a JavaScript (registered trademark)application execution environment. The browser 234 is a module in whichthe portal browser page (the portal application) which was downloadedfrom the portal URL (the portal server 212) is executed. The browser 234performs presentation of the content via a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) processing system and conversation management with the enduser. In the portal application, the browser 234 performs the selectionof the content or the channel as well as the processing of thereproduction control screen of the selected content or channel.

The player 235 is a module which reproduces and presents the stream, andas well as being implemented externally to the browser, there are alsocases in which the player 235 is embedded in the browser 234. In thepresent embodiment, the player 235 establishes one HTTP pseudo streamingchannel (session) with guaranteed bandwidth as a private channel withthe IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216 and receivesall of the streaming on this session constantly. If necessary, thesecurity of the HTTP pseudo streaming session is secured using SSL orthe like.

FIG. 3 shows a sequence example for performing a content streamdistribution service by using a permanent streaming session in the IPTVdistribution system 100 (however, only until the private channel isestablished). In the illustrated sequence, streaming is performedcorresponding to the streaming request of the content from the clientside. Hereinafter, the workings of the IPTV distribution system 100shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The IPTV client manager 233 on the client device 231 acquires a list forsearching for the service providers which provide the IPTV service, inother words, the service discovery information, from the servicediscovery server 211 (SEQ 301). In the service discovery information,the name of the service and the portal URL (Uniform Resource Locator) ofthe IPTV service are defined as attributes of the IPTV service. The IPTVclient manager 233 launches the browser 234 based on the portal URL (SEQ302).

The browser 234 downloads (DL) the portal page from the portal server212 and presents it to the end user (SEQ 303). Here, since the portalpage itself is developed by the IPTV service provider, it is sufficientfor the client vendor to only implement the browser executionenvironment, and it is not necessary to implement an IPTV clientpeculiar to each provider like in the system of the related art shown inFIG. 10. Furthermore, it is possible for all of the service providers todesign the content navigation sequences in relation to the selectionprocessing of the content, and changes and the like are also simple.Therefore, it is possible for the service provider to achieveunification of the service quality provided to each client and areduction in maintenance costs.

Here, a portal application written in, for example, JavaScript(registered trademark) is included in the portal page. The portalapplication is executed corresponding to the end user's selection of thedesired IPTV content or broadcast channel via the portal page displayedon the browser 234 (SEQ 304). Alternately, the portal application isexecuted at the point in time that the portal page is opened.

The portal application such as the browser application for service A orthe browser application for service B requests, in relation to the edgeserver 216 installed in the region of the application within theprovider network, that the relevant IPTV service translation serverapplication be downloaded (DL) and executed (SEQ 305). Alternately, itis also possible to download a plurality of the IPTV service translationserver applications which may be used beforehand to the edge server 216from the portal server 212. However, if the overheads to executing afterdownloading are sufficiently small, it is preferable to download thistype of application each time in order to achieve better convenience ofmaintenance, version management, and the like. When the edge server 216launches the IPTV service translation server downloaded from the portalserver 212 (SEQ 306), the edge server 216 returns a response to thetranslation server launch request to the request source portalapplication.

In addition, the portal application requests, in relation to the player235 (implemented to process the AV streaming protocol and reproduce thestream) on the client device 231, that an IPTV private channel beestablished with the IPTV service translation server operating on theedge server 216 (SEQ 307). Furthermore, the player 235 issues an IPTVprivate channel establishment request to the edge server 216 (SEQ 308).This IPTV private channel is a private HTTP streaming sessionindividually allocated to each client (this refers not to a TCP sessionwhich completes after each individual HTTP request or acquisitiontransaction, but a session of a longer continuous time).

The IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216, in responseto the IPTV private channel establishment request from the player 235,requests the securing of the distribution resources such as CPU (CentralProcessing Unit), memory region and network interface, which arenecessary for streaming, through the IPTV private channel between theappropriate translation server and the player 235 in relation to theresource management server 215 (SEQ 309). It is assumed that theresource management server 215, in response to this request, constantlysecures the above-described communication resources from theestablishment of the streaming session to the release thereof (SEQ 310).

Furthermore, for the distribution resource securing, the IMS (IPMultimedia Subsystem)/SIP protocol used in carrier private networks suchas NGN, the OpenFlow-API, individual protocols for carrier networks, orthe like may be used. Here, IMS is a communication method for nextgeneration public communications networks which realizes a multimediaservice by consolidating public communication services which havedifferent circuit switches and packet switches such as the fixed phonenetwork and the mobile communication network using SIP. In addition,OpenFlow is network control technology which the OpenFlow switchingconsortium advocate, is a communication method which defines a series ofcommunications determined by the combination of MAC (Media AccessControl) address, IP address, port number, and the like as a “flow”, andsecures quality and improves the network utilization factor byperforming path control by the flow unit. In the present embodiment, thenecessary resources are secured in order to provide the distributionresources and quality levels defined in the SLA (Service LevelAgreement) of the contract that the end user agreed to. An SLA is asystem in which the communication service enterprise guarantees aquality of service to the user which indicates that regulations relatingto the compensation items of service quality such as the minimumcommunication speed, the average delay time, and the upper limit ofdowntime, as well as the reduction of usage fees when the above itemswere not realizable, are included in the service contract.

When the distribution resources are secured, the QoS in relation to theIPTV distribution service of the IPTV private channel is guaranteed.Accordingly, between the IPTV service translation server on the edgeserver 216 and the player 235, one HTTP pseudo streaming channel(session) with guaranteed bandwidth is established as the IPTV privatechannel (SEQ 311, 312). The IPTV private channel is permanent, and is abandwidth guaranteed path in which HTTP request transmission from theplayer 235, and HTTP response from the translation server on the edgeserver 216 are typically possible. The IPTV service translation serveron the edge server 216 constantly transfers the streaming on all of thechannels to the player 235 side. If necessary, the security of the HTTPpseudo streaming session is secured using SSL or the like.

Subsequently, the end user performs the selection of the content usingthe content navigation function of the portal application which thebrowser 234 executes. In the process of the content navigation, theportal application on the browser performs transactions with the portalserver, and the end user can select the desired content whilereferencing the attribute information of the content (the title, theoutline, the price, and the like).

The portal application, in addition to the URL of the content that theend user selected, issues a streaming request and instructs the streamexport of the content in relation to the IPTV service translation serveron the edge server 216. In relation to this instruction, the IPTVservice translation server exports the content stream instructed by URLusing the permanent streaming session. Furthermore, on the client device231, the player performs the streaming reproduction of the content.

FIG. 4 shows a sequence example (the processing after establishing theprivate channel) in further detail which performs reproduction controlof the content stream using the above-described permanent streamingsession on the client device 231 in the IPTV distribution system 100.

When a private channel is established between the translation server onthe edge server 216 and the player 235, the end user performs theselection of the content using the content navigation function of theportal application which the browser 234 executes (SEQ 401). In theprocess of the content navigation, the portal application on the browser234 performs transactions with the portal server, and the end user canselect the desired content while referencing the attribute informationof the content (the title, the outline, the price, and the like).

It is possible for the end user to perform reproduction control as intrick play, such as normal reproduction (play), stopping (stop), rewindreproduction (rewind), fast forward reproduction (forward), and pauseusing the portal application executed by the browser 234.

First, description will be given of a case in which the content streamis reproduced at normal speed.

The end user instructs the normal reproduction of the content beingstreamed on the browser screen executing the portal application afterselecting the content to perform streaming reproduction in theabove-described manner (SEQ 402).

The portal application on the browser 234, in addition to the URL of thecontent that the end user selected, issues a reproduction controlcommand that instructs normal reproduction and instructs the export ofthe content stream in relation to the translation server on the edgeserver 216 (SEQ 403).

The interactions of the reproduction instruction from the end user areall detected by the portal application, and the transaction server onthe edge server 216 is notified of the interactions as reproductioncontrol commands.

Here, the portal application performs the reproduction instructions byHTTP requests such as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript (registeredtrademark)+XML). The translation server on the edge server 216 performstransactions by converting the reproduction control commands from thebrowser script executed as the portal application on the client device231 into an individual IPTV service reproduction control protocol whichcan be interpreted by the streaming server 213. In other words, thetranslation server performs reproduction instructions in relation to thestreaming server 213 (SEQ 404).

For example, if the streaming server 213 can interpret RTSP, thetranslation server converts the reproduction control command from theportal application into an RTSP transfer instruction and transfers theRTSP transfer instructions. Alternatively, when the streaming server 213is an HTTP pseudo streaming server which can only interpret HTTP, thetranslation server converts the reproduction control command from theportal application into a content request in HTTP pseudo streaming andtransfers the content request.

In relation to this, the streaming server 213 exports the selectedcontent stream at the normal speed instructed by the reproductioncontrol command (SEQ 405). The streaming server 213 performs streamingusing RTP or the like, or returns an HTTP pseudo streaming response.

The translation server on the edge server 216 converts the individualstreaming format for the provider (transport protocol(RTSP/RTP/RTCP)/codec/container) exported from the streaming server 213into a format (HTTP streaming/codec/container which the client player iscapable of processing) which can be processed by the player whichoperates on the client device 231, and exports the converted format(HTTP pseudo streaming) (SEQ 406). Furthermore, on the client device231, the player performs reproduction of the received stream (SEQ 407).

Next, description will be given of a case in which the end user performsspeed varied reproduction of the content stream.

The end user, for example, during stream reproduction at the normalspeed, instructs the speed varied reproduction of the content beingstreamed on the screen of the browser 234 executing the portalapplication (SEQ 411).

The portal application issues a reproduction control command thatinstructs the speed varied reproduction and instructs the export of thecontent stream in relation to the translation server on the edge server216 (SEQ 412). The interactions of the trick play instruction from theend user are all detected by the portal application, and the transactionserver on the edge server 216 is notified of the interactions asreproduction control commands.

The portal application performs the reproduction instructions using HTTPrequests such as AJAX. Then, when the translation server on the edgeserver 216 receives the reproduction control commands which instructsthe speed varied reproduction from the browser script executed as theportal application on the client device 231, the translation serverconverts the reproduction control commands into an individual IPTVservice reproduction control protocol which can be interpreted by thestreaming server 213 and performs reproduction instruction (SEQ 413). Inrelation to this, the streaming server 213 performs speed variedtransfer on the selected content stream at the speed instructed by thereproduction control command (SEQ 414). The streaming server 213performs streaming using RTP or the like, or returns an HTTP pseudostreaming response.

For example, if the streaming server 213 can interpret RTSP, thetranslation server converts the reproduction control command from theportal application into an RTSP transfer instruction and transfers theRTSP speed varied transfer instructions. If the speed variedreproduction instruction is for double speed, the content stream isexported at double speed from the streaming server 213. Alternatively,when the streaming server 213 is an HTTP pseudo streaming server whichcan only interpret HTTP, the translation server issues an HTTP requestat double the normal speed and acquires the content stream from the edgeserver 213 at double speed.

When the translation server on the edge server 216 receives speed variedcontent via one of the above-described methods, the translation serverprocesses the stream such that the player 235 of the client device 231side only has to perform the same processing as in normal reproductionand transfers the stream (SEQ 415). At this time, the translation serverconverts the individual streaming format for the provider (transportprotocol (RTSP/RTP/RTCP)/codec/container) exported from the streamingserver 213 into a format (HTTP streaming/codec/container which theclient player 235 is capable of processing) which can be processed bythe player which operates on the client device 231, and exports theconverted format (HTTP pseudo streaming) (SEQ 415). Furthermore, on theclient device 231, the player 235 performs reproduction of the receivedstream (SEQ 416).

By adopting the configuration of the IPTV distribution system 100 whichinterposes a translation server as described above, it is no longernecessary for the client vendor to implement an individual serviceprotocol for each service as the client application, and it is possibleto greatly reduce the development costs of the clients which support theservices of the providers of different services (network services,internet services).

Next, description will be given of the means to realize the high speedchannel changing in the IPTV distribution system 100 with reference toFIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that in the core network 201, the IPbroadcast channels (including live relay streams and the like) providedby IPTV services which correspond to the IPTV service translation serveron the edge server 216 are all being broadcast from the streaming server213 to the edge server 216. In other words, at the same time as the IPTVservice translation server is downloaded to the edge server 216 andlaunched, a stream forwarding request is performed in relation to all ofthe IP broadcasts which the IPTV service translation server is capableof accessing (providing service).

Specifically, when multicasting is used for the transport protocol ofthe IP broadcast channel in the core network 201, directly after thetranslation server has been downloaded to the edge server 216 andlaunched, a participation (acquisition) request is performed in relationto all of the multicast channels which the streaming server 213 iscapable of providing service of via a multicast router in the corenetwork 201. RTP and multicasting are used for the transmission of thechannel stream from the streaming server 213 to the translation server.In addition, Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and MulticastListener Discovery (MLD) are used for the participation to the multicastchannels.

When the channel is selected using the portal application which operateson the browser of the client device 231, the portal application requeststhe selection or change of the channel in relation to the IPTV servicetranslation server on the edge server 216 as an AJAX/HTTP request.Furthermore, the translation server instantly performs channel switchingto the desired channel stream. When the end user selects a certainchannel, since the channel is already being broadcast by multicast fromthe streaming server 213, the IPTV service translation server on theedge server 216 can instantly transmit (in other words, perform HTTPstreaming) the corresponding multicast streaming to the player on theclient device 231.

When the end user selects a different channel by channel zapping or thelike, since the stream of the newly selected channel is also alreadybeing multicast from the streaming server 213, it is possible to channelswitch to a desired channel instantly. Therefore, the performance ofchannel zapping is greatly improved. Furthermore, the client constantlyreceives the HTTP streaming from the same URL (referring to thetranslation server) even before and after the channel change.

However, when the corresponding IPTV service translation server may notparticipate (register) in all of the multicast channel streams it iscapable of accessing due to restrictions in the resources of the corenetwork 201, it is possible to devise a network resource load reductionplan. For example, when the end user selects a certain channel, thenumber of multicasts to be participated in may be restricted byselectively participating in multicasts of channels before and after(this may be “before and after” on the channel list, or may be “beforeand after” on a channel list showing only channels with a high accessfrequency, taking the preferences of the end user into account) theselected channel, or the like.

FIG. 6 shows a sequence example for performing a channel streamdistribution service by using a permanent streaming session in the IPTVdistribution system 100. In the illustrated sequence, streaming isperformed corresponding to the channel request of the content from theclient side. Hereinafter, the workings of the IPTV distribution system100 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

The IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216, directlyafter being downloaded and launched, requests, in relation to theresource management server 215, the securing of the distributionresources such as the CPU, the memory region and the network interface,which are necessary for the IPTV private channel which performs channelstreaming to the player (SEQ 601).

The resource management server 215, in response to this request,constantly secures the above-described communication resources from theestablishment of the streaming session to the release thereof (SEQ 602).Furthermore, for the distribution resource securing, the IMS/SIPprotocol used in carrier private networks such as NGN, the OpenFlow-API,individual protocols for carrier networks, or the like may be used (asabove).

Furthermore, between the IPTV service translation server on the edgeserver 216 and the player 235, one HTTP pseudo streaming channel(session) with guaranteed bandwidth is established as a private channel(SEQ 603, 604). The IPTV private channel is permanent, and is abandwidth guaranteed path in which HTTP request transmission from theplayer, and HTTP response from the translation server on the edge server216 are typically possible. The IPTV service translation server on theedge server 216 constantly transfers the streaming on all of thechannels to the player side. If necessary, the security of the HTTPpseudo streaming session is secured using SSL or the like.

Next, the IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216, inrelation to the streaming server 213, performs a participation(acquisition) request in relation to all of the multicast channels whichmay be selected (SEQ 605). In relation to this request, the streamingserver 213 performs streaming using the normal speed transfer to thetranslation server on the edge server 216 in relation to all of therequested channels using RTP or the like (SEQ 606).

The end user performs the selection of the channel using the contentnavigation function of the portal application which the browser 234executes (SEQ 607). In the process of the channel navigation, the portalapplication on the browser 234 performs transactions with the portalserver 212, and the end user can select the desired channel whilereferencing the attribute information relating to the channel to beselected (the title, the outline, the price, and the like).

Furthermore, the end user instructs the portal application on thebrowser 234 to perform reproduction of the selected channel (SEQ 608).

The portal application on the browser 234 performs reproductioninstruction of the selected channel using an HTTP request such as AJAXin relation to the translation server on the edge server 216 (SEQ 609).Participation in the target multicast stream using IGMP Join and thelike is performed beforehand. Therefore, at this timing, the IPTVservice translation server on the edge server 216 can instantly startthe streaming of the selected channel by simply changing the multicaststream input port. Furthermore, the IPTV service translation server onthe edge server 216 exports the content stream of the selected channelusing HTTP pseudo streaming (SEQ 610). Furthermore, on the client device231, the player performs reproduction of the received content stream(SEQ 611).

Next, the end user performs the selection of the channel using thechannel navigation function of the portal application on the browser(SEQ 612). In the process of the channel navigation, the portalapplication on the browser 234 performs transactions with the portalserver 212, and the end user selects the desired channel whilereferencing the attribute information relating to the channel to beselected (as above).

Furthermore, the end user instructs the portal application on thebrowser 234 to perform reproduction of a different channel to the onedescribed above (SEQ 613). The portal application on the browserperforms reproduction instruction of the selected channel using an HTTPrequest such as AJAX in relation to the translation server on the edgeserver 216 (SEQ 614). Since participation in the target multicast streamusing IGMP Join and the like is performed beforehand, at this timing,the streaming of the selected channel is instantly started by simplychanging the multicast stream input port. Furthermore, the IPTV servicetranslation server on the edge server 216 exports the content stream ofthe selected channel using HTTP pseudo streaming (SEQ 615). On theclient device 231, the player 235 performs reproduction of the receivedcontent stream (SEQ 616).

In the sequence example shown in FIG. 6, the IPTV service translationserver on the edge server 216 performs HTTP pseudo streaming of thesupported channel stream among the channels being transmitted bymulticast from the streaming server 213 to the player 235 on the clientdevice 231. In relation to this, when there is a sufficient accumulationstorage region (storage) of memory, a hard disk, or the like on the edgeserver 216, it is possible to improve the performance of the trick playmode (mainly, rewind reproduction) during the multicast channelreproduction by accumulating the channel stream exported from thestreaming server 213 in the accumulation storage region.

At the same time as the IPTV service translation server is downloaded tothe edge server 216 and launched, a forwarding request is performed inrelation to all of the IP broadcast channels which the translationserver is capable of accessing (providing service). Specifically, whenmulticasting is used for the transport protocol of the IP broadcastchannel in the core network 201, directly after the IPTV servicetranslation server has been downloaded to the edge server 216 andlaunched, a participation (acquisition) request is performed in relationto all of the multicast channels which the streaming server 213 iscapable of providing service via a multicast router in the core network201. Here, all of the multicast streams transmitted to the edge server216, when received by the edge server 216, are accumulated at the sametime in the storage region described above. Furthermore, when the enduser instructs rewind reproduction, it is possible to greatly improvethe performance of the rewind reproduction of the IP broadcast channelby performing reproduction from the stream which is already accumulatedin the accumulation storage region of the edge server 216.

However, when the corresponding IPTV service translation server may notaccumulate the portion which was already distributed of all of themulticast channel streams it is capable of accessing due to restrictionsin the resources of the core network 201, or restrictions in theaccumulation storage area of the edge server 216, it is possible todevise a network resource and storage resource load reduction plan. Forexample, when the end user selects a certain channel, by selectivelyparticipating in multicasts of channels before and after (this may be“before and after” on the channel list, or may be “before and after” ona channel list showing only channels with a high access frequency,taking the preferences of the end user into account) the selectedchannel, or the like, only the above multicast streams are accumulatedin the edge server 216, thereby reducing the load of the networkresources and the storage resources.

FIG. 7 shows a sequence example for performing a channel streamdistribution service by using a permanent streaming session in the IPTVdistribution system 100. In the illustrated sequence, the edge server216 is provided with storage in which is accumulated the streams and cansupport the speed varied reproduction of the channel streams.

The IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216, directlyafter being downloaded and launched, requests, in relation to theresource management server 215, the securing of the distributionresources such as the CPU, the memory region and the network interface,which are necessary for the IPTV private channel which performs channelstreaming to the player (SEQ 701).

The resource management server 215, in response to this request,constantly secures the above-described communication resources from theestablishment of the streaming session to the release thereof (SEQ 702).Furthermore, for the distribution resource securing, the IMS/SIPprotocol used in carrier private networks such as NGN, the OpenFlow-API,individual protocols for carrier networks, or the like may be used (asabove).

Furthermore, between the IPTV service translation server on the edgeserver 216 and the player 235, one HTTP pseudo streaming channel(session) with guaranteed bandwidth is established as a private channel(SEQ 703, 704). This IPTV private channel is permanent, and is abandwidth guaranteed path in which HTTP request transmission from theplayer 235, and HTTP response from the translation server on the edgeserver 216 are typically possible. The IPTV service translation serveron the edge server 216 constantly transfers the streaming on all of thechannels to the player 235 side. If necessary, the security of the HTTPpseudo streaming session is secured using SSL or the like.

Next, the IPTV service translation server on the edge server 216, inrelation to the streaming server 213, performs a participation(acquisition) request in relation to all of the multicast channels whichmay be selected (SEQ 705). In relation to this request, the streamingserver 213 performs streaming using the normal speed transfer to thetranslation server on the edge server 216 in relation to all of therequested channels using RTP or the like (SEQ 706).

The end user performs the selection of the channel using the contentnavigation function of the portal application which the browser 234executes (SEQ 707). In the process of the channel navigation, the portalapplication on the browser 234 performs transactions with the portalserver 212, and the end user can select the desired channel whilereferencing the attribute information relating to the channel to beselected (the title, the outline, the price, and the like).

Furthermore, the end user instructs the portal application on thebrowser 234 to perform reproduction of the selected channel (SEQ 708).

The portal application on the browser performs reproduction instructionof the selected channel using an HTTP request such as AJAX in relationto the translation server on the edge server 216 (SEQ 709).Participation in the target multicast stream using IGMP Join and thelike is performed beforehand. Therefore, at this timing, the IPTVservice translation server on the edge server 216 can instantly startstreaming the selected channel by simply changing the multicast streaminput port. Furthermore, the IPTV service translation server on the edgeserver 216 accumulates the content stream of the selected channel in thestorage of the edge server 216 (SEQ 710), while exporting the contentstream using HTTP pseudo streaming (SEQ 711). Furthermore, on the clientdevice 231, the player 235 performs reproduction of the received contentstream (SEQ 712).

Next, the end user performs the instruction of the speed variedreproduction of the content stream using the channel navigation functionof the portal application on the browser (SEQ 713). The portalapplication on the browser 234 performs speed varied reproductioninstruction of the content using an HTTP request such as AJAX inrelation to the translation server on the edge server 216 (SEQ 714).

When the translation server on the edge server 216 receives thereproduction control commands which instructs the speed variedreproduction from the browser script executed as the portal applicationon the client device 231, the translation server confirms whether or notthe past broadcast portion of the target channel has already finishedbeing accumulated in the storage thereof (SEQ 715).

At this time, if the past broadcast portion of the target channel hasalready finished being accumulated in the storage, it is determined tobe possible to perform speed varied reproduction. When the translationserver fetches the corresponding channel stream from those which havefinished being accumulated in the storage thereof (SEQ 716), thetranslation server processes the stream such that the player on theclient device 231 only has to perform the same processing as in normalreproduction (it is possible to perform speed varied reproduction) (SEQ717).

Furthermore, the translation server exports the channel stream, whichhas undergone with above-described processing, using HTTP pseudostreaming (SEQ 718). On the client device 231, the player performsnormal reproduction of the received content stream, therefore it ispossible to present the speed varied reproduced stream to the end user(SEQ 719).

As described above, in the IPTV distribution system 100 according to thepresent embodiment, the functions of an IPTV service client providedfrom a plurality of different service providers may be separated intonavigation (a function of selecting the content), reproduction control(a function which sends commands as in trick play, such as normalreproduction (play), stopping (stop), rewind reproduction (rewind), fastforward reproduction (forward), and pause), and streaming (a functionwhich transfers and reproduces the AV stream), the first two beingrealized as a browser application, and the latter one being implementedas a player which is transparent to the IPTV service protocol (is commonand does not depend on the differences between the IP serviceprotocols).

Therefore, it is sufficient for the device vendor to develop a browserapplication for each service, and it is possible to reduce the cost ofindividually implementing and maintaining clients for a plurality ofdifferent services. In addition, for the service provider, since thecontent which the end user selected via the browser is streamed usingthe RTP protocol through a network in which the quality is guaranteed inaccordance with the reproduction control commands specified on thebrowser, it is possible to achieve unification of the service quality.In addition, it is possible to greatly improve the performance whenperforming a channel change in the IP broadcast distribution despiteusing an HTTP streaming client.

Furthermore, the technology disclosed in the present specification maybe configured as described below.

(1) A content transfer device including a channel establishment unitwhich establishes a channel on a network with a content reproductiondevice that reproduces a content stream; a reproduction control commandreception unit which receives a reproduction control command thatcontrols reproduction of the content stream from the contentreproduction device via the network; and a streaming unit which exportsthe content stream to the content reproduction device using the channelin accordance with the received reproduction control command.

(2) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the channelestablishment unit establishes the channel according to a request from aplayer which reproduces the content stream on the content reproductiondevice.

(3) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the channelestablishment unit establishes a channel, which is formed from abandwidth guaranteed path in which HTTP request transmission and HTTPresponse with the content reproduction device are typically possible, onthe network.

(4) The content transfer device according to (1), in which thereproduction control command reception unit receives a reproductioncontrol command which a browser application that operates in a browserexecution environment of the content reproduction device issuedaccording to an instruction of a user, as an HTTP request.

(5) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the streamingunit exports the content stream to a player transparent to a serviceprotocol which operates on the content reproduction device.

(6) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the streamingunit acquires the content stream, which a browser application thatoperates in a browser execution environment of the content reproductiondevice requests according to a selection of a user using an HTTPrequest, from a streaming server and exports the content stream to thecontent reproduction device.

(7) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the streamingunit, according to a request from the content reproduction device,converts a streaming format exported from a streaming server into aformat which can be processed by a player that performs streamingreproduction on the content reproduction device side and exports thestream to the content reproduction device.

(8) The content transfer device according to (1), in which thereproduction control command reception unit performs transactions with astreaming server by converting the received reproduction controlcommands into a reproduction control protocol which can be interpretedby the streaming server that exports content according to a streamingrequest from the content reproduction device.

(9) The content transfer device according to (8), in which thereproduction control command reception unit performs transactions withthe streaming server which can interpret RTSP by converting thereproduction control command relating to speed varied reproduction ofthe stream into an RTSP speed varied transfer instruction.

(10) The content transfer device according to (8), in which thereproduction control command reception unit, in relation to an HTTPpseudo streaming server which can only interpret HTTP, converts thereproduction control command relating to the reproduction speed of thestream into a content request in HTTP streaming, and issues an HTTPrequest to the HTTP pseudo streaming server at a speed corresponding tothe speed instructed by the reproduction control command.

(11) The content transfer device according to (1), further includingstorage in which is accumulated the content stream received from astreaming server, in which the streaming unit, when a reproductioncontrol command relating to speed varied reproduction of the stream isreceived by the reproduction control command reception unit, processesthe stream such that a player that operates on the content reproductiondevice can perform speed varied reproduction using the same processingas in normal reproduction.

(12) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the channelestablishment unit, the reproduction control command reception unit andthe streaming unit are realized as functions of a translation serverwhich is downloaded from a designated portal server and launched.

(13) The content transfer device according to (1), in which the contenttransfer device operates as an edge server interposed between astreaming server which exports the content stream and a contentreproduction device.

(14) A content transfer method including establishing a channel on anetwork with a content reproduction device that reproduces a contentstream; receiving a reproduction control command that controlsreproduction of the content stream from the content reproduction devicevia the network; and exporting the content stream to the contentreproduction device using the channel in accordance with the receivedreproduction control command.

(15) A content transfer device including a navigation unit whichrequests streaming of content selected according to an instruction of auser using an HTTP request; a reproduction control unit which performsreproduction control of the streaming of content according to theinstruction of the user; and a player which reproduces the contentstream received via a channel established with a designated server.

(16) The content reproduction device according to (15), furtherincluding a browser execution environment, wherein the navigation unitand the reproduction control unit are realized as a browser applicationwhich is executed in the browser execution environment; and wherein theplayer is transparent to the service protocol.

(17) The content reproduction device according to (15), in which theplayer requests establishment of the channel to the server according toa request from the browser application.

(18) The content reproduction device according to (15), in which thecontent reproduction device is formed from a bandwidth guaranteed pathin which HTTP request transmission and HTTP response with an edge serverwhich transfers a content stream are typically possible.

(19) A content transfer method including requesting streaming of contentselected according to an instruction of a user using an HTTP request;performing reproduction control of the streaming of content according tothe instruction of the user; and reproducing the content stream receivedvia a channel established with a designated server

(20) A content distribution system including a content reproductiondevice which performs an instruction of selection of content andreproduction control of content by HTTP request in addition toperforming stream reproduction of content using a player which istransparent to a service protocol; a streaming server which exports acontent stream which the content reproduction device selected; and anedge server which performs transactions with the streaming server byconverting reproduction control commands issued by the contentreproduction device into a protocol which can be interpreted by thestreaming server, as well as converting the content stream exported fromthe streaming server into a format which can be processed by the playerand transferring the content stream using a channel established with thecontent reproduction device.

(21) The content distribution system according to (20), furtherincluding a resource management server which secures distributionresources necessary for the channel.

(22) A computer program written in a computer readable format causing acomputer to function as a channel establishment unit which establishes achannel on a network with a content reproduction device that reproducesa content stream; a reproduction control command reception unit whichreceives a reproduction control command that controls reproduction ofthe content stream from the content reproduction device via the network;and a streaming unit which exports the content stream to the contentreproduction device using the channel in accordance with the receivedreproduction control command.

(23) A computer program written in a computer readable format causing acomputer to function as a navigation unit which requests streaming ofcontent selected according to an instruction of a user using an HTTPrequest; a reproduction control unit which performs reproduction controlof the streaming of content according to the instruction of the user;and a player which reproduces the content stream received via a channelestablished with a designated server.

Furthermore, the technology disclosed in the present specification mayalso be configured as described below.

(1) An apparatus including:

a control unit to control transmission of a transformed video streamover a network, in response to a reproduction control command for avideo stream realized by an application executed by a browser at aclient device.

(2) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the reproduction controlcommand indicates a trick play including at least one of play, stop,rewind, forward or pause.

(3) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the reproduction controlcommand is transmitted as a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requestfrom the browser.

(4) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the transmission of thetransformed video stream is by executing a predetermined serverapplication downloaded to the apparatus.

(5) The apparatus according to (1), wherein, when the reproductioncontrol command instructs speed varied reproduction, the control unitconverts the reproduction control command into an individual servicereproduction control protocol which can be interpreted by a contentstreaming server that performs speed varied transfer on a selectedcontent stream at a speed instructed by the reproduction controlcommand.

(6) The apparatus according to (5), wherein the control unit controlstransmission of the selected content stream at the speed instructed asthe transformed video stream.

(7) The apparatus according to (6), wherein the transformed video streamis in a format that can be processed by a player operating on the clientdevice.

(8) The apparatus according to (7), wherein the format of thetransformed video stream is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) pseudostreaming.

(9) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the transformed video streamis transmitted independently of a service protocol.

(10) The apparatus according to (1), wherein, when a memory of theapparatus has a predetermined storage, the control unit controls storingof a video stream from a server in the memory.

(11) The apparatus according to (10), wherein the predetermined storagecan support speed varied reproduction of the video stream from theserver as the transformed video stream.

(12) The apparatus according to (10), wherein the control unitdetermines whether a portion of the video stream from the server is inthe memory.

(13) A method comprising:

controlling, by a processor, transmission of a transformed video streamover a network, in response to a reproduction control command for avideo stream realized by an application executed by a browser at aclient device.

(14) A non-transitory recording medium recorded with a programexecutable by a computer, the program comprising:

controlling transmission of a transformed video stream over a network,in response to a reproduction control command for a video streamrealized by an application executed by a browser at a client device.

(15) An apparatus including:

a control unit to control transmission of a reproduction control commandfor a video stream realized by an application executed by a browser, tocause transmission of a transformed video stream from another apparatusover a network.

(16) A method including:

controlling, by a processor, transmission of a reproduction controlcommand for a video stream realized by an application executed by abrowser, to cause transmission of a transformed video stream from anapparatus over a network.

However, it is clear that a person skilled in the art may achievecorrections and replacements of the embodiments within a scope that thespirit of the present disclosure is not departed from.

What is claimed is:
 1. A television receiver comprising: a browser; acommand receiver receiving a reproduction control command issued by anapplication executed by the browser; and control circuitry configured to(i) perform a protocol conversion on the received reproduction controlcommand so that the reproduction control command can be interpreted by acontent streaming server, (ii) supply the converted reproduction controlcommand to the content streaming server, (iii) receive a selectedcontent stream having a first format protocol from the content streamingserver in response to supplying the converted reproduction controlcommand to the content streaming server, and (iv) convert the receivedselected content stream from the first format protocol to a secondformat protocol so as to obtain a transformed video stream, wherein thesecond format protocol is a streaming protocol, the first formatprotocol is different from the second format protocol, the controlcircuitry is configured to convert the received reproduction controlcommand from the second format protocol to the first format protocolsuch that the received reproduction control command is converted from areproduction control command that has the second format protocol andspecifies a reproduction mode to a reproduction control command that hasthe first format protocol and specifies the reproduction mode, and whena user of the television receiver switches to a certain channel of amultiple of multicast channels, a speed of switching to the certainchannel depends on whether the certain channel is one of the multiple ofmulticast channels.
 2. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein thereproduction control command is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)request.
 3. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the secondformat protocol is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streamingprotocol.
 4. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the protocol ofthe received reproduction control command that is converted by thecontrol unit is a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streamingprotocol.
 5. An apparatus comprising: a browser that executes areproduction control command as a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)request for a video stream and sends the reproduction control command toa command receiver that detects and interacts with a client device, thereproduction control command of the browser is executed over a networkand causes control circuitry to control transmission of a transformedvideo stream over the network, in which, when a selected content streamis from speed varied transfer of content in accordance with thereproduction control command, in which the selected content stream has afirst format protocol as exported from a server and the selected contentstream is converted from the first format protocol to a second formatprotocol to cause transmission of the transformed video stream on aprivate channel which is established prior to execution of thereproduction control command over the network; and a player thatreproduces the transformed video stream having the second formatprotocol by performing a same reproduction processing that the playerperforms to reproduce the transformed video stream obtained from aconversion by the control circuitry of a format protocol of the contenttransferred at a speed without variation as the selected content streamexported from the server; wherein: the first format protocol isdifferent from the second format protocol, and the first format protocolis different from the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol; the controlcircuitry is configured to convert the reproduction control command sentthereto from the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol to the first formatprotocol and to transfer the reproduction control command having thefirst format protocol to the server such that the received reproductioncontrol command is converted from a reproduction control command of theHyper Text Transfer Protocol and specifies a reproduction mode to areproduction control command that has the first format protocol andspecifies the reproduction mode; and when a user of the apparatusswitches to a certain channel of a multiple of multicast channels, aspeed of switching to the certain channel depends on whether the certainchannel is one of the multiple of multicast channels.
 6. The televisionreceiver of claim 1, wherein one or more of the multicast channelsincluded in the multiple of multicast channels is set according to afrequency of channel access.
 7. The television receiver of claim 1,wherein when the certain channel is one of the multiple of multicastchannels content of the certain channel is instantly set to the receivedselected content and instantly converted from the first format protocolto the second format protocol to obtain a transformed video stream ofthe certain channel.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein one or more ofthe multicast channels included in the multiple of multicast channels isset according to a frequency of channel access.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein when the certain channel is one of the multiple ofmulticast channels content of the certain channel is instantly set asrequested content and instantly converted from the first format protocolto the second format protocol to obtain a transformed video stream ofthe certain channel.